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BOB SAVAGE |
THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 2 ...
A POWERFUL RED SOX TEAM FAILS
IN THE WORLD SERIES ....
Ninth and tenth inning rallies win for the Sox
September 1, 1946 ... Spearheading the tying rally in the ninth-inning, Leon Culberson wrecked the hopes of Bob Savage, when he singled home the winning run in the 10th inning, as the Red Sox
concluded a lengthy homestand with a 4 to 3 win over the Philadelphia athletics at Fenway Park.
Honored by his hometown before the game, Savage of Manchester, NH, pitched one of the finest games tossed against the Red Sox at Fenway Park this season. He had a 2 to 1 lead entering the ninth inning, with Culberson's double and Dom DiMaggio's two-out single forcing the game into extra
innings. After the Sox tied the score in the ninth, Ted Williams laced into a Savage offering and backed Valo up against the right-field stands to haul down his terrifically stroked drive for the third out.
In the 10th, Tex Hughson, who hardly warmed up, walked Oscar Grimes and when Mike Higgins threw wildly on Barney McCloskey's bunt, Grimes went all the way to third. After Buddy Rosar popped out, Pete Suder lay down a perfect squeeze bunt against the deep playing Boston infield, to score
Grimes and gave the A's a 3 to 2 lead. But fate worked against Savage in the 10th, just as it so often does to ballplayers who are honored before a game.
Bobby Doerr started the terrific bottom of the 10th inning. He stroked a line drive straight into the hands of Sam Chapman in left field, but the ball popped out of his glove for an error. Crossing up the opposition, Rudy York laid down a perfect bunt and rolled past Savage for a hit.
The 28,000 patrons were up on their chairs cheering, as the Sox put on their second comeback drive. Don Gutteridge was inserted to run for York. The speedy replacement got down to second and Doerr took third on Mike Higgins sacrifice. Connie Mack then ordered an intentional pass to Hal
Wagner, loading the bases. Wally Moses hit a long drive which Elmer Valo caught in a distant right-field, allowing Doerr to easily score and Gutteridge taking third. Culberson whacked the first Savage serve. It was a sharp single into left, and all except the 1800 "Savage Day" fans from
Manchester, roared their approval as Gutteridge sprinted home with the winning run.
The Sox scored the first run in the third inning on a DiMaggio single, a Ted Williams walk and and off-the-fence double by Bobby Doerr. For six innings Joe Dobson pitched shutout ball. He weakened in the seventh inning giving up two runs and retired in favor of Mace Brown.
An hour after the game the Red Sox flew off to New York. |
